Swimmer&#39;s appliance



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' J. usffzlcrJ-lv suwn's Brumes mnd pct. 9,1923

.INVENTOR 30M Umd BY M l A TTORNE Y Patented July 28, 1925i.

JOH USEICH, 0F NEW WEST'MINSTEB, BRITISH COLUMBIA,V CANADA.

i sWIMMERs APrLIANcE.

Application filed October 9, 1923. Serial' No. 667,458.

T0- aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN UsEIoH, a citizen of Ukraine, residing at NewWestminster, in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwimmersAppliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to appliances for keeping a personafloat in the water, and it may be used by swimmers generally, or it maybe provided onships for use as a life preserver.

The invention has for an object the provision o-f a novel device of theabove type, a further object relating to the supplying of food or drinkto the person using the device.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a side view showing my improved device as inactual use.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device, this View beingtaken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a front to rear vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a part rear view and part vertical section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the' propulsion members adapted formounting on the wrists and ankles.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In constructing my improved device I provide a back frame-piece 1() towhich is secured, on the rear side thereof, a casing 11 which issuitably curved on the front to fit snugly on the body and is of an areato substantially cover the trunk of the user. This casing is buoyant andforms the sustaining element of the device.

To securethe device in place on the body of the user I attach to theframe-piece on opposite sides thereof, the vest pieces 13 which enclosethe body of the user at the front and are buttoned together or securedto one another by any other suitable means,

to hold the device in position, suitable arm holes being providedthrough which the arms are inserted.

In the present rinstance I have shown a rubber air bag 14 as enclosed'inthe casing 11, and being of sufficient size to'co-mpletely fill thecasing when inflated under a fair degree of air pressure. This bag mayhave a valve member 15 which projects through the back wall of thecasing for inflation purposes. I also mount in the top portion of thecasing aV pair of smaller flexible bags 18 which may be of rubber orother suitable material, and which are separated by a short partitionmember 19 extending downward from the J[,op of the casing midway betweenthe sides thereof. These bags are provided with filling mouths such as21 to each of which may be removably attached a cap 22 to which isattached in turn the flexible tube,

23 having a hand valve 24 on its free end. The bags 18 are filled priorto inflating the air bag 14, and when the latter is inflated it willtend to compress the bags 18 so that the user of the device may obtainthe liquid contained therein by opening the valves 24.

To assist in propulsion through the water I may mount on the wrists andankles of the user the device such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thiscomprises a wedge shaped member 26 transversely curved to fit the limbsof the user and having a cupped rear end`27 which catches the water onthe rearward stroke of the limbs. Straps 28 are provided for attachmentof the member in place.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Leters Patent of the United States is as folows:

1. A device of the class described comprising a. casing, an air bagtherein, and a liquid holding bag in said casing adapted to dischargeits contents under pressure from said air bag.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing, an air bag insaid casing, a pair of liquid holding bagsadapted to discharge theircontents under pressure from said air bag, and a partition separatingsaid liquid holding bags.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN USEICH.

